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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 10, 2003

Statement by the Press Secretary

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice announced today the appointment of Thomas A. Shannon as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, effective April 15, 2003. Mr. Shannon succeeds Ambassador John Maisto.

Mr. Shannon is currently Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State. Previously, he served as the Director of Andean Affairs from 2001 to 2002, and as the U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States from 2000 to 2001. He also served as Director for Inter-American Affairs at the National Security Council from 1999 to 2000; as Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela from 1996 to 1999; and Regional Labor Attach at the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg, South Africa from 1992 to 1996.

During his career as a Foreign Service Officer, Mr. Shannon also served as Special Assistant to the Ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil from 1989 to 1992; as Country Officer for Cameroon, Gabon and Sao Tome/Principe from 1987 to 1989; and as the Consular/Political Rotational Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, Guatemala from 1984 to 1986.

Mr. Shannon holds a Doctorate and a Master's degree in politics from Oxford University, and a B.A. in Government and Philosophy from the College of William and Mary. He and his wife Guisela have two sons.

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